Department of Energy Chief of Staff Tarak Shah to Resign Next Month
- He was the first person of color, first Indian American, and first openly LGBTQ person to serve in that position.
Tarak Shah is departing the Department of Energy as chief of staff next month, Politico reported, citing a farewell email he sent to staff on March 15. Shah wrote that he’s “stepping away satisfied that DOE is the strongest it has ever been.” He was the first person of color, first Indian American, and first openly LGBTQ person to serve as chief of staff at DOE.
An energy policy expert, Shah has spent the last decade working on combating climate change, the DOE said in a press release announcing Shah’s appointment last January. “He has designed and implemented policies that have contributed to the clean energy revolution, fostered profound advancements in renewables and energy efficiency, and formed core portions of U.S. global climate commitments,” the press release added.
In a series of tweets, he wrote that “working for @POTUS, @SecretaryGranholm, and this team has been 1 of the greatest experiences of my life.” He went on to note his accomplishments at the DOE. Noting that his team at DOE “looks like America, is climate ambitious, and – most importantly – kind,” he added that he’s “so proud to have raised the Pride Flag for the first time ever outside of DOE’s HQ.”
After leaving the DOE, Shah said he is going to take some time to recharge his batteries, so he can continue “to be the best champion I can be for our country and our planet!” And as he’s been part of the @Energy family for over 20 years now, he’ll “be cheering for all of you from the sidelines!”
At the Biden-Harris Transition, Shah was the personnel lead for the Climate and Science team. From 2014 to 2017, he served as Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Science and Energy at DOE. Before his time in government, Shah has also worked on political campaigns, including President Obama’s Senate and presidential campaigns. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his M.B.A from Cornell University.